- 264 BC: Rome and Carthage go to war over control of Sicily.
- 262 BC: Rome wins a major naval battle at Mylae.
- 256 BC: Carthage wins a major naval battle at Ecnomus.
- 241 BC: Rome wins the war and annexes Sicily.
Second Punic War (218-201 BC)
- 218 BC: Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, crosses the Alps with his army and invades Italy.
- 216 BC: Hannibal wins a major victory over the Romans at Cannae.
- 202 BC: The Romans defeat Hannibal at the Battle of Zama.
- 201 BC: Carthage is defeated and Rome becomes the dominant power in the Mediterranean.